Arizona AG investigating redistricting panel

by Mary Jo Pitzl - Jul. 21, 2011 10:08 PMThe Arizona Republic

Members of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission say they will cooperate with an investigation by Attorney General Tom Horne into whether the board may have violated state procurement and open-meetings laws.

Horne on Thursday said he's opening what he called an initial investigation based on numerous complaints to his office.

"It's intended to satisfy a public unease," he said.

He said he doesn't know if there has been any wrongdoing, which is why he's calling this an "initial" investigation instead of a full-blown probe.

The commission began a series of public hearings Thursday evening as it works to redraw Arizona's congressional and legislative district boundaries.

Horne's announcement comes after several weeks of criticism by "tea party" members and some Republicans, who feel that the five-member board favors Democrats.

The flash point was the board's 3-2 decision last month to hire Strategic Telemetry as its mapping consultant.

The Washington, D.C.-based firm has a long list of Democratic clients, including company President Ken Strasma's work in 2008 on then-Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Horne said there have also been concerns that the commission picked its mapping consultant during a closed-door executive session instead of in a public meeting.

By law, personnel decisions can be discussed in executive sessions, but decisions must be made in public.

Horne also cited concerns noted in an Arizona Capitol Times article that the commissioners may have violated state procurement laws, although he didn't detail the issues he wants to examine.

Horne acknowledged the political storm swirling around the commission, but said he will focus on whether the group followed legal procedures in awarding the consultant contract.

"Even though at times I enter the political fray, this time I won't comment on that," he said.

He said that he had yet to assign an investigator to handle the probe, which will include a review of documents as well as interviews.

But he said the issue is a priority, and he hopes to quickly conclude whether a full-blown investigation is needed.

Ray Bladine, the commission's executive director, said the commission's two attorneys were contacting Horne's office to understand what he is seeking.

"The commission has followed legal advice, including (that from) the AG's Office and the outside legal counsel," Bladine said.

Horne's office provided legal services as the commission was organizing earlier this year but left when the group hired twooutside attorneys.

The Attorney General's Office also provided the attorneys who advised the state Procurement Office, which worked with the commission on the consultant contract.

Ultimately, the commission opted to do the hiring directly, as the law allows it to do, and discontinued its work with the state-run office.